Active Current Control Using the Enclosure of an Implanted Pulse Generator
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical stimulation apparatus including a medical device. The medical device includes: a housing component having at least one electrically conductive area. The medical device includes a plurality of conductors configured to be electrically coupled to a distal electrode array. The electrode array are implantable in a human body. The medical device includes a stimulation circuit positioned inside the housing component. The stimulation circuit includes a plurality of controllable stimulation channels. A first subset of the stimulation channels is electrically coupled to the conductors. A second subset of the stimulation channels is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive area of the housing component. The stimulation circuit is operable to simultaneously create a first stimulation path in the electrode array and a second stimulation path that extends from the electrode array to the housing component.
74 Citations
77 Claims
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1-10. -10. (canceled)
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11. A neurostimulation medical system, comprising:
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a controller circuit configured to generate control signals in response to external programming signals; a stimulation circuit configured to generate stimulation signals in response to the control signals; a plurality of implantable electrodes; a plurality of conductors configured to deliver the stimulation signals from the stimulation circuit to the electrodes; and an enclosure that houses the controller circuit and the stimulation circuit therein, the enclosure containing an area that is electrically conductive; wherein the stimulation circuit is configured to activate a first subset of the electrodes to a first polarity, a second subset of the electrodes to a second polarity, and the enclosure to one of the first and second polarities, so as to cause a first stimulation path to be formed between at least one of the electrodes in the first subset and at least one of the electrodes in the second subset, and a second stimulation path to be formed between the enclosure and at least one of the electrodes in the first and second subsets. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18-42. -42. (canceled)
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43. A neurostimulation medical system, comprising:
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a controller circuit configured to generate control signals in response to external programming signals; a stimulation circuit configured to generate stimulation signals in response to the control signals; a plurality of distal electrodes; a plurality of conductors configured to deliver the stimulation signals from the stimulation circuit to the electrodes; and an enclosure that houses the controller circuit and the stimulation circuit therein, the enclosure containing at least one electrically conductive area, wherein the distal electrodes are coupled to the stimulation circuit through the enclosure; wherein the stimulation circuit is configured to; energize a first subset of the distal electrodes with a first polarity; energize a second subset of the distal electrodes with a second polarity opposite the first polarity, the second subset being different from the first subset; and energize the enclosure with one of the first and second polarities. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52)
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53. A neurostimulation medical system, comprising:
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a controller circuit configured to generate control signals in response to external programming signals; a stimulation circuit configured to generate stimulation signals in response to the control signals; a distal electrode array that is implantable in a human body; a plurality of conductors configured to deliver the stimulation signals from the stimulation circuit to the electrodes; and a housing component that houses the stimulation circuit therein, the housing component containing at least one electrically conductive area; wherein; the stimulation circuit includes a plurality of controllable stimulation channels, a first subset of the stimulation channels being electrically coupled to the conductors, and a second subset of the stimulation channels being electrically coupled to the electrically conductive area of the housing component; and the stimulation circuit is operable to simultaneously create a first stimulation path in the electrode array and a second stimulation path that extends from the electrode array to the housing component. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A neurostimulation medical system, comprising:
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a controller circuit configured to generate control signals in response to external programming signals; a stimulation circuit configured to generate stimulation signals in response to the control signals, wherein the stimulation circuit contains a plurality of current sources, and wherein at least a subset of the current sources each include at least one adjustable electrical supply; a plurality of implantable distal electrodes; a lead wire coupling assembly for electrically coupling the stimulation circuit to the distal electrodes; and an enclosure that houses the stimulation circuit therein, the enclosure having at least one electrically conductive portion, wherein at least one of the current sources in the subset is electrically coupled to the electrically conductive portion of the enclosure; - View Dependent Claims (61, 62, 63, 64, 65)
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66. A neurostimulation medical system, comprising:
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a controller circuit configured to generate control signals in response to external programming signals; a stimulation circuit configured to generate stimulation signals in response to the control signals; a remote electrode array; a plurality of lead wires configured to provide electrical pulses generated by the stimulation circuit to the remote electrode array; and an enclosure that surrounds the stimulation circuit, the enclosure containing at least one electrically conductive area, wherein the lead wires are coupled to the stimulation circuit through the enclosure; wherein the stimulation circuit is configured to; cause a first stimulation path to be formed within the remote electrode array; and cause a second stimulation path to be formed from the remote electrode array to the enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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73. A neurostimulation medical system, comprising:
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a controller circuit configured to generate control signals in response to external programming signals; a stimulation circuit configured to generate stimulation signals in response to the control signals, wherein the stimulation signals can stimulate a body tissue, and wherein the stimulation circuit includes one or more adjustable electrical supplies; one or more distal electrodes; a coupling mechanism configured to electrically couple the stimulation circuit to the one or more distal electrodes; and an enclosure that houses the stimulation circuit therein, the enclosure containing at least one electrically conductive portion; wherein the stimulation circuit is configured to simultaneously drive the enclosure through the conductive portion and drive at least a subset of the distal electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77)
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Specification